The Chronic Consumer

Although I have a general household budget that I try to follow, I’m usually not too strict about it unless times are tight. Since that pretty much explains how things are now, I’m now stuck trying to figure out if my budget even works or not.

For example, is it enough just knowing exactly how much I have to pay every month for my mortgage, cable, life insurance, and cars? Shouldn’t I actually be trying to save money on those things by shopping around for lower rates and cheaper premiums?

As I look over my monthly budget, I see that I have very few variable expenses that can be adjusted downward to squeeze out a little extra cash here and there. So how exactly am I supposed to make positive changes in my finances? The only thing left to do is start canceling services like my cable and Internet, which actually isn’t a viable option at all.

At any rate, I guess what I’m trying to say here is that I hate not having any money to go shopping!! I can’t wait for my check from the economic stimulus plan to get here!

I was reading an article today about cell phones that have a special gps tracking feature built right into them. The article was positive in tone (none of that government conspiracy theory stuff), and mentioned how this sort of device could be useful for parents worried about their children’s safety.

I actually agree with that, and want to buy one for my son when he’s ready for his own phone in a few years. So my question is, do most of the latest cell phones come with GPS tracking capabilities? Or is this feature not as in demand as the article made it seem?

I suppose I could go research this on my own, but I’m feeling a bit lazy today! Anyway, I still have several years before I need to buy my son a phone, so I’d say I’ve got plenty of time to find what I need…

Like most people, IMDb.com is the first place I go whenever I need to find info related to movies, TV shows, or actors. The regular site is completely free, but there’s also a “Pro” site that requires a paid membership. IMDb Pro promises more in-depth information about productions, from business figures to contacts and analysis. The site is also promoted as a way to network with others in the industry to find jobs or perhaps even get funding for a project.

I thought the site sounded interesting, so I decided to sign up for the IMDb Pro free trial which grants two weeks of access in exchange for a credit card number. I didn’t get charged anything, but if I don’t cancel within the proper time frame, I’ll be out $12.95/mo until I do cancel.

I’ve spent the last few days browsing around the IMDb Pro site, and I honestly don’t think the information is any better than what’s available on the free site. From what I understand, the info on IMDb Pro is still user-contributed, meaning that it’s not any more reliable than on the free site. Moreover, the “job board” mostly consists of independent screenwriters and out-of-work actors hoping that someone will notice them. If you’re looking to break into the business, I don’t know how useful this type of information would be.

IMDb Pro also purports to list contact information for actors, directors, agents, producers, etc., so I had a look at what that was all about. Johnny Depp was listed at the top of the first page, and by clicking on his link, all I found was the phone number and address for his talent agency. I obviously wasn’t expecting to get aerial views of his French home, but still… agency stuff isn’t exactly top-secret info that would justify paying $12.95 per month or $99.95 per year.

The bottom line is that while IMDb Pro might sound like fun because of the feeling of being on the “inside”, the truth of the matter is you’ll be just as far away from Hollywood and celebrities as ever. I see absolutely no reason to spend $100 per year on the site, so my recommendation is that you save your money!

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